Cubs Make Decision Amid Kyle Tucker's Free Agency

As Tucker prepares to weigh his options, Chicago’s president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer addressed the team’s top priority at the winter meetings on Tuesday. “We have a lot of position players, so our biggest focus this offseason will be bolstering the rotation and bullpen,” Hoyer said ( h/t Robert Murray of FanSided).

Hoyer’s decision to aggressively pursue more arms reflects the glaring holes in both the rotation and bullpen, areas that ultimately cost the Cubs in the postseason.

Still, Tucker’s looming free agency hangs over every decision the front office makes. The Cubs traded a significant haul to acquire him from Houston last offseason, and deciding to let him walk after just one year would be a brutal outcome.

Tucker was a key part of Chicago’s turnaround in 2025, ending a four-year postseason drought. Multiple executives around the league believe Tucker could command a contract worth more than $400 million over a span exceeding ten years. That kind of deal would reshape any team’s payroll structure, and the Cubs must decide whether they are willing to make that kind of commitment.

Until his situation is resolved, it casts a shadow over the rest of the offseason. Every move, whether it is targeting pitching, exploring trades or allocating budget, depends on whether Tucker is part of the long-term plan.

Chicago’s front office knows the stakes. Losing Tucker for nothing after giving up premium assets to get him would be a tough pill to swallow, especially for a team trying to build sustainable success. His future remains the biggest variable in what could be a defining offseason for the Cubs.